Torpedo arrester or insulator



May 2, 1944. I 2,345,994

5. D. REDMOND ETAL TORPEDO ARRESTER OR INSULATOR Filed June 2, 1942 I the vessel.

Patented May 2, 1944 TORPEUO ARRESTER OR INSULATOR Sidney D. Redmond and Admiral H. McCoy, Jackson, Miss.

Application June 2, 1942, Serial No. 445,498

Claims.

This invention relates to a torpedo or mine arrester for a vessel.

An object of this invention is to provide an arrester of this kind which is adapted to be positioned on the sides of the vessel and normally disposed out of the water so that it will not impair the normal speed of the vessel, the device being capable of being quickly lowered to an operative and protective position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is so constructed that it will prevent the torpedo from contacting with the vessel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a protective device of this kind which is so constructed that it will be capable of resisting the impact of the torpedo before explosion of the latter and will so engage the torpedo that it will not explode.

A further object of this invention is to provide a protective device in the form of a fibrous screen which is mounted in a metal frame, the frame providing suflicient weight to maintain the screen at the desired depth in the water, and sufficient strength to permit the screen to withstand the shock of impact of a torpedo therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide a protective screen which is formed of interlaced fibrous strands, the crossing points of the strands being firmly locked together and the interstices between the strands being of such size as to permit at least a portion of the torpedo nose to engage therein, but being small enough to prevent a torpedo from passing therethrough.

With the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vessel having a torpedo arrester or protector mounted thereon,

Figure 2 is a sectional view' taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the torpedo arresting or protecting screen.

Referring to the drawing, the character V designates generally a vessel of suitable construction and the numeral Iii designates generally a torpedo protecting screen which is disposed in outstanding position with respect to the side llof The screen or protecting member comprises a rectangular metal frame l2 which has secured to the inner side thereof a plurality of spaced apart eyes l3 which are extended outwardly through openings [4 formed in the frame 12 and the outer ends of the eyes l3 are upset as at [5.

A plurality of vertically spaced horizontal fibrous strands 16 are secured to the eyes I3. The strands T6 are preferably formed out of rope or other flexible material and the opposite ends of each horizontal strand l6 are for-med with a loop or reverted portion H. The adjacent reverted end of the strand I6 is spliced or otherwise secured as at l8 so that the eye l3 will be enclosed in the reverted portion I]. The screen structure H! also includes a plurality of horizontally spaced apart vertical strands l9 which are adapted to be secured at their upper and lower ends to upper and lower eyes 13. The opposite ends of the vertical strands 19 are reverted as at 20 and then secured or spliced as at 2|. At ce points where the horizontal and vertical strands l6 and I9 respectively cross each other, the strands I6 and I9 are tied or locked together by means of a locking strand 22. The interstices formed by the strands l6 and 19 are of such a size that the nose of a torpedo may engage therein but the complete torpedo will be prevented from passing through the screen and in this manner the torpedo will be held against exploding.

The frame member I2 is held in outstanding relation with respect to the side ll of the vessel when in operative position by means of a pair of right a'ngularly disposed supporting bars 23. The bars 23 at their outer ends are secured to the upper horizontal bar 24 of the frame I2 and the bars 23 at their inner ends are secured to a lengthwise extending bar 25. A pair of hinge members 25 are secured to the longitudinal bar 25 and each hinge member 26 has one leaf 2'! thereof secured as by fastening means 28 to the outer side of the vessel side wall H.

The upper frame bar 24 has fixed thereto a pair of 'spacedapart eyes 29 and one end of an elevating flexible member 38 is secured to the eyet29. The flexible member 30 is extended through sheave 3| which is secured as by an eye or fastening member 32 to the side II of the vessel adjacent the upper edge of the rail thereof. The flexible elevating member 3|] may then be extended inwardly of the upper deck of the vessel and engaged with a winch or other elevating and loweringmeans so that the protecting screen it! may be normally disposed in an uppermost position out of engagement or contact with the water and may be easily andquick- 1y lowered to substan'tially submerged position in the wateras shown in Figure 2.

In order to provide a means whereby the protecting member Iii may be supported .in an operative position with the bars 23 horizontal and the protecting member I0 vertical, we have provided a pair of flexible supporting members 33 which are secured as at 34 to the upper frame bar 24. The side H of the vessel is provided with a pair of hooks 35 with which the chain or flexible member 33 is adapted to be engaged.

In the use of this protecting device or torpedo arrester, the device is secured by means of the hinge members 26 to the side of the vessel closely adjacent the waterline. Thefiexible members 30 are then engaged with one or more winches or elevating and lowering devices and during the normal operation of the vessel V the protecting member ID will be elevated and the bars 23 disposed in substantially a vertical position. In this manner, the protecting member ID will not impair the speed of the vessel during normal operation.

In the event a torpedo is sighted or the vessel V enters a dangerous zone the protecting member Ill may be lowered to the limit permitted by the flexible supporting members 33. Under certain conditions, the protecting member l may be disposed in a substantially vertical position which is the position shown in full lines in Figure 2. of the protecting member III will be disposed substantially coplanar with the bottom of the vessel. However, if desired, the protecting member It! may be lowered to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 so that the protecting member Ill will be disposed at an angle to the vertical and the'lower edge thereof will be disposed below the bottom of the vessel. In this latter position, the protecting member ill will be disposed at an oblique angle to the movement of a torpedo towards the vessel so that in this oblique angle the protecting member or arrester It] will tend to deflect any torpedoes which may strike it.

In the event a torpedo should strike the screen or protecting member ID in such a manner as to explode the torpedo, this explosion will not cause as great damage to the vessel V as would be caused if the torpedo struck the side of the vessel. There may be as many of these protecting devices as may be desired about the exterior of the vessel V and the screen formd by the interlacing and intersecting strands I6 and I9 may be formed out of rope or other like material which is of sufiicient strength to withstand the shock from the impact of the moving torpedo.

What we claim is:

1. A protecting screen for a vessel comprising a frame structure, means pivotally supporting said frame structure on the side of a vessel for movement from an inoperative position above the waterline to an operative position within the Water, means limiting the downward swinging movement of said frame, means for elevating or lowering said frame, interlaced fibrous strands carried by said frame, the interstices between said strands being sufficiently large to admit entrance of the nose of a-torpedo and locking strands securing said interlaced strands together at the points of intersection. r

2. A protecting screen for'a vessel comprising a frame structure, means pivotally supporting said frame structure on the side of a vessel for movement from .an inoperative position above the waterline to an operative position within the water, means limiting the downward swinging movement of-said frame, means forelevating or In this vertical position the lower edge lowering said frame, a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced apart parallel fibrous strands fixed in said frame, a plurality of vertically disposed spaced apart parallel fibrous strands to thereby form a fibrous screen having interstices sufiiciently large to receive the nose of a torpedo and locking strands securing said horizontal and vertical strands together at the points of intersection.

3. A protecting screen for a vessel comprising a frame structure, right angularly disposed bars fixed at their outer ends to the upper portion of said frame and extending inwardly therefrom, means engaging the inner ends of said bars pivotally supporting said frame structure on the side of a vessel for movement from an inoperative position above the waterline to an operative position within the water, means limiting the downward swinging movement of said frame, means for elevating or lowering said frame, a plurality of inwardly projecting eyes carried by said frame, a plurality of horizontal spaced apart parallel fibrous strands secured to certain of said eyes, and a plurality of vertically disposed spaced apart fibrous strands interlaced with said horizontal strands and fixed to certain others of said eyes.

4. A protecting screen for a vessel comprising a frame structure, right angularly disposed bars fixed at their outer ends to the upper portion of said frame and extending inwardly therefrom, means engaging the inner ends of said bars pivotally supporting said frame structure on the side of a vessel for movement from an inoperative position above the waterline to an operative position within the water, means limiting the downward swinging movement of said frame, means for elevating or lowering said frame, a plurality of inwardly projecting eyes carried by said frame, a plurality of horizontal spaced apart parallel fibrous strands secured to certain of said eyes, a plurality of vertically disposed spaced apart fibrous strands interlaced with said horizontal strands and fixed to certain others of said eyes, and means engaging about said horizontal and vertical strands at the points of crossing of said strands for holding one strand against shifting lengthwise of an adjacent strand.

5. A protecting screen for a vessel comprising a frame structure, right angularly disposed bars fixed at their outer ends to the upper portion of said frame and extending inwardly therefrom, means engaging the inner ends of said bars pivotally supporting said frame structure on the side of a vessel for movement from an inoperative position above the waterline to an operative position within the Water, means limiting the downward swinging movement of said frame, means for elevating or lowering said frame, a plurality of inwardly projecting eyes carried by said frame, a plurality of horizontal spaced apart parallel fibrous strands secured to certain of said eyes, a plurality of vertically disposed spaced apart fibrous strands interlaced with said horizontal strands and fixed'to certain others of said eyes, and a flexible locking strand engaging 

